Posts Tagged ‘deserts of the American Southwest’

In the Midst of Winter shares ways to cope for those suffering from misunderstood chronic illnesses, and a glimpse into our daily lives for those who wish to understand. It also testifies of the Savior’s ability to reach into each heart and bring hope and renewal.

At age fourteen, Danice Hope started having troubles functioning during the winter months. Each year, the fatigue and depression grew worse. During the summers, her health would improve, and she learned to fit as much joy into life as possible before winter returned. After six years, she was finally diagnosed with seasonal affective disorder. Over time, she realized that there was also beauty in winter. She found a poster with flowers growing out of the snow that said, “In the midst of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”

In the mid 1990’s, Danice moved south to Arizona with the hope of improving her health enough to have a better life. While the SAD improved, she found herself developing new health problems. The biggest surprise was that she could be sitting slumped over in a wheelchair in the emergency room, barely able to speak or move, and doctor after doctor told her that she wasn’t ill, or that it was “just anxiety”. After going to twenty-four different doctors in the next year, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Stunned at the loss of her hopes and dreams, she gradually learned to see in new ways, to balance her health, to reshape her dreams, and to look to Christ. She learned that flowers can grow not only in the snow, but also in the desert sun.

Danice Hope has been married to the same loving, supportive husband for 26 years. They live in the deserts of the American Southwest, where the winters are mild. Their two lovable cats keep them busy.

Danice loved to roam the mountains of Utah in her younger years, and to see the variety of wildflowers each spring. She has enjoyed writing since she was old enough to write. She takes solace in reading the scriptures and other good books. She is grateful for God’s care and guidance through the distresses of life.

One night, as I watched a Christian channel, I heard some intriguing ideas about different ways of healing. A doctor pointed out that Jesus heals in different ways. In Mark the blind man was healed by Jesus’ word. In John 9 the people thought that the man was blind due to sin. But Jesus said that it was so “that the works of God should be made manifest in him,” (verse 3). Then Jesus anointed the man’s eyes with clay and spittle and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. And the man “went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing,” (verse 7).

The doctor pointed out that our pathway to healing can be through a single miracle or it can come through our own pathway that Jesus can show to us: whether through vitamins and medicines or some other way. We don’t have to feel guilty when people claim that we must not have enough faith if we aren’t instantly healed. It takes faith to follow Jesus’ plan for us. “With his stripes we are healed,” Mosiah 14:5.